Pelargonium plant named ‘Clip Salcon’

ABSTRACT

A new  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Clip Salcon,’ particularly distinguished by the salmon-pink flowers with bars and spots flower patterning, dark foliage, medium vigor, and good branching.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pelargoniumhortorum.

Varietal denomination: ‘Clip Salcon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Pelargonium, botanically known asPelargonium hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name‘Clip Salcon.’

‘Clip Salcon’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The newcultivar ‘Clip Salcon’ has salmon-pink flowers with bars and spotsflower patterning, dark foliage, medium vigor, and good branching.

‘Clip Salcon’ originated from a hybridization in a controlled breedingprogram in Gilroy, Calif. USA. The female parent was an unpatentedhybrid seedling identified as ‘9716-1.’ ‘9716-1’ has light salmon color,with lighter foliage, no flower ‘confetti’ patterning, and is a singleflower compared to ‘Clip Salcon.’

The male parent of ‘Clip Salcon’ was an unpatented hybrid seedlingidentified as ‘9657-6.’ ‘9657-6’ has salmon color, with less stable‘confetti’ pattern, petals shatter more readily, and less vigor comparedto ‘Clip Salcon.’

‘Clip Salcon’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross in 2004 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif.USA.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Clip Salcon’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection inAugust 2004 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. USA.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in August 2004 in Gilroy, Calif. USA , and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Clip Salcon’ are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Clip Salcon’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

‘Clip Salcon’ has not been made publicly available more than one yearprior to the filing of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Clip Salcon’ with colors being as true as possiblewith an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows aflowering potted plant of the new variety and a close-up of a flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Salinas, Calif. USA, in June 2008 onplants that were growing in a greenhouse in one gallon pots. Culture ofthese plants started in April 2008. The plants were approximately 3months old.

Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif., USA. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basiccharacteristics of the new variety. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes this Pelargonium as a new and distinctvariety.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘ClipsLitsaltwo’ (U.S. Plant ‘Clip Salcon’ Pat. No. 17,235) Foliage Less zone,larger leaves More zone, smaller leaves Flowers Has ‘confetti’ colorpattern Has no ‘confetti’ color pattern Plant Larger plant Smaller plantPeduncles Shorter Longer

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Upright and rounded growth habit.            Well-branched.        -   Plant height.—10–15 cm.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—18–23 cm.        -   Plant width.—13–15 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137B. Lower            surface: RHS 137C.        -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137A. Lower surface:            RHS 137C.        -   Length.—2.8–3.5 cm.        -   Width.—4.0–4.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Base shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Very slightly and irregularly crenate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Hirsute at the margins, glandular            hairs.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Slightly hirsute; glandular hairs,            some with approximately RHS 25A.        -   Color of zone.—Approximately RHS 178B.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—Indistinct.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 146B.        -   Petioles color.—RHS 146B.        -   Width of zone.—0.5–0.8 cm.        -   Petioles length.—2.7–3.0 cm.        -   Diameter of petiole.—0.25 cm.        -   Texture.—Hirsute; glandular hairs; some with RHS 25A.-   Stem:    -   -   Color of stem.—RHS 144A to B.        -   Length of stem.—8–10 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5–0.7 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—0.5–1.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Hirsute; glandular hairs.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—An umbel composed of 30–40 flowers and buds.        -   Average quantity of inflorescences.—20.        -   Umbel diameter.—9–10 cm.        -   Umbel depth.—4–5 cm.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 187A.        -   Length of peduncle.—10–15 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Hirsute; glandular hairs, some with approximately            RHS 25A.        -   Pedicel color.—RHS 176A.        -   Length of pedicel.—2.5–2.7 cm.        -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.15 cm.        -   Texture.—Short hirsute; glandular hairs, some with            approxmiately RHS 25A.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Polypetalous, overlapping.        -   Number of petals.—6–8.        -   Width of flower.—4.5–4.7 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Color upper and lower petals, upper surface.—RHS N155B but            whiter ground color; between RHS 52C and RHS D overlay; RHS            55C at margins; between RHS 42A and RHS42B in irregular            sized blotches, spots and bars (occasionally the blotch is ¼            to ½ of the petal); RHS 43C small spots.        -   Color upper and lower petals, lower surface.—RHS N 155B but            whiter; RHS 43C blotches and RHS 55B at the margins.        -   Length of upper petals.—2.0–2.2 cm.        -   Width of upper petals.—1.7–2.1 cm.        -   Length of lower petals.—2.1–2.2 cm.        -   Width of lower petals.—2.0–2.2 cm.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Petal texture.—Papillose.        -   Number of petaloids.—1–3.        -   Color of petaloids.—Same as upper.        -   Average length of petaloids.—1.5 cm.        -   Average width of petaloids.—0.7–0.9 cm.        -   Duration of flowering.—Continuous flowering throughout the            Summer.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—About one week.-   Bud (when sepals first divide):    -   -   Color.—RHS N 155B with whiter; RHS 44A barring.        -   Length.—1.0–1.3 cm.        -   Width.—0.6–0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Number of sepals.—5, fused at the base.        -   Color of sepals.—RHS 146C with overlay of anthocyanins of            RHS 176A.        -   Length of sepals.—0.9–1.0 cm.        -   Width of sepals.—0.25–0.4 cm.        -   Sepal shape.—Linear to lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth.        -   Lower surface.—Pilose along margins; hirsute; glandular            hairs, some RHS 25A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—1.        -   Length.—0.8–0.9 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 48A.        -   Style length.—0.3 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 47B.        -   Number of anthers.—About 8–9.        -   Length filaments.—0.6–0.7 cm.        -   Color of filaments.—RHS N155B but whiter with RHS 51A at the            anther.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS 28A.        -   Fertility/seed set.—Not observed on this hybrid.-   Disease/pest resistance: Disease resistance and/or susceptibility    has not been observed on this hybrid.

1. A new and distinct variety of Pelargonium plant named ‘Clip Salcon,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.